Auburndale Police Department Investigating Death
At approximately 3:36 p.m. on Monday, January 24, 2022, officers of the
Auburndale Police Department were dispatched to a report of a body found floating in Lake Stella near downtown Auburndale.
Officers arrived to find the body of a 40-year-old white male near the south shoreline of Lake Stella. The investigation determined that two young men were fishing from the grass banks of the lake when one of them cast a line that hooked something heavy. As he reeled it in, he realized it appeared to be connected to the body of an adult male.
One of the gentlemen called his father, who responded to the lake, determined it was, in fact, the body of an adult male, and called 911.
Officers arrived and investigated the scene. The decedent was identified as a local resident who had recently returned to the area. It appeared he may have been in the water for 24-48 hours. There were no obvious signs of trauma, though this is a medical examiner case. An autopsy is pending.
As of this writing, we have been unable to contact next of kin. Those efforts continue this morning.
If you have any information or witnessed anything in the area of Lake Stella over the past weekend, please contact Auburndale Police Department Detective Alex Pena at (863)965-5555.
Updates will be provided as they become available.
